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They will have to eventually do things on their own, no better time than the present. It’s true you can “teach an old dog new tricks”, but the older they are and set in their way, the harder it is. Mold them at a young age, and they’ll grow up as you have trained them.
Plus they get access to both TVs so there is less fighting, lol. I believe in the free-range ideas, but practicing them is harder. But one rainy morning I was reluctant to pack up the whole family to take husband to work. (He works 3 miles from our house and usually bikes in.) So after practicing the phone rules and discussing door rules, I left them home alone for the 15 minute trip.
What should you do if police suspect you endangered a child?
Ultimately, each of has to assess our kids individually and, after an honest appraisal, make our best decision. You never know who is scoping out a place either and notices “patterns” of you leaving without the kids. I guess I should have qualified that “no cooking, no nuking” as being unless they have demonstrated that they could do it safely. Of course most people ignore the law, and it exists mostly because of the afore-mentioned fire risk , but still…. Thinking back on it now, it’s so sad that this is the world we live in.
Is it child abuse to leave your child home alone? As a parent, you have or will have to decide whether to leave your child at home alone for a period of time. Your child may get home from school before you do, or they may not want to participate in a family outing, saying they prefer to stay home.
Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?
Some of the problems presented include physical abuse, coming to school when you are sick, staying home alone, and sexual abuse. Children are encouraged to come up with a list of adults that they would tell about their problems. But here, in North America, to allow a child to have such luxury as being on their own for an hour?
(Yes, she is on the ground floor and we sleep with the windows open – it saves energy to cool the house.) The difference is where she is in her sleep cycle. I live in a suburban area with many at-home moms whose schedules are dominated by driving the kids to and from school and activities. Think of all the thousands of cars we could free up from the roads if some of those trips were done by kids getting from point A to point B on their own. You know, the way we all did for decades until CNN hit the airwaves. I owe it to my wife and my self, and I don’t apologize for it. Let other people consider it a badge of honor to look like a hag or get a beer gut because they’re totally into nothing but the kids 100% to the exclusion of an actual adult life.
Consider maturity level more than age
The only question is whether it is safe for you — whether you live in an environment where you’d have to fear someone calling the authorities on you. That’s probably something only you can judge from where you are. And I agree that there needs to be a trusted backup plan — “anything” probably won’t happen, but it’s wise to be prepared, whether it’s something going amiss at home or with you away from home. If you have a neighbor standing between your kids and official contact, then they’ll probably be deemed not to have been endangered by your absence. When I was 5, my parents (unbeknownst to myself and my 3-year old sister) would leave us while we were sleeping (from 5-7, usually) so my dad could teach my mom to drive on empty streets. This was well before the days of cell phones, so there was absolutely no way we could reach them.
Unless you are in an apartment building with little outdoor access, a very old house,or in row houses in a firebug area, I doubt there is a real chance of fire. If you don’t do any of the above, the chances are even less. UGH- where I live, Kids may be working, nothing crazy, but a money earning job, at this age! Not that I’m for child labor, but come on, they aren’t babies at 7 or 9.
Parental Rights and Liability
You need to do your own diligence to ensure the job or caregiver you choose is appropriate for your needs and complies with applicable laws. “You can have an incredibly responsible child, but if he or she is easily stressed or scared, they’re probably not ready to be left on their own,” says Bettencourt. Sometimes I need to do some groceries even if only milk but I wait for him to wake up, I wouldn’t risk it.
That sitter has since had a baby and I don’t know anyone crazy/nice enough to babysit at that hour on a regular basis. Leave a child alone in a house with conditions that pose a substantial risk to him or her. Learn more about the American Academy of Pediatrics including our mission, leadership and commitment to the optimal health and well-being of all children. Find valuable resources to assist you in your pediatrics career from pre-med and training to finding a job and growing a thriving practice.
For example, a very mature 11-year-old may be ready to stay home alone, whereas a 15-year-old may not be ready due to emotional or behavioral difficulties. Additionally, just because a child may be ready to care for himself or herself, it does not necessarily mean that he or she is ready to care for their younger sibling without adult supervision. However, the Virginia Department of Social Services has established guidelines for parents to consider when making the important decision of when and for how long they leave their children at home without supervision. For parents, leaving a child home alone can be a difficult decision. However, some situations arise where it can become necessary.
Social workers advise to wait until they're preteens. Another thing to consider besides your child’s maturity is their comfort level with being left on their own. I know this because as a young teenager my mum would have to work and although it was legal for her to leave me to let myself in i actually MISSED her. I made food (often opening a can of corn or using the microwave – remember those microwave corndogs? no stove or oven), snuck in some cartoons that I wasn’t supposed to watch, read, napped, whatever.
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